Improvement in corn-harvesters



R. L. NELSON. Improvement in Corn-Harvesters. 514,182.

Patented April 25 1871.

Fig.1.

idniirt %iatzz RICHARD L. NELSON, OF ORANGE COURT HOUSE, VIRGINIA.

Letters Patent No. 114,182, dated April 25, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-HARVESTERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making-part of the same.

the accompanying drawing making a part of this specilication, in whichi Figure 1 represents a perspective View or the machine, and

Figure 2 represents a vertical longitudinal section through the same.

Similar letters of reference where they occur in the separate figures denote like parts of the machine in the drawing.

This invention relates to a machine for gathering, cutting, and delivering onto a dumping-carriage or platform, corn, cane, cotton, or other stalks as they stand in the field, and depositing them in bundles or piles behind the machine as it traverses the field.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceedto describe the same with reference to the drawing.

A represents a tongue or shaft-frame, in which is hung a roller, B, cylindrical in its central portion, and conical at its ends, so as to 'roll easily in the land between the rows of stalks.

Upon the ends of this roller B are bevel-gear rims, a, that take into and turn the pinions b on the Vertical reel-shafts 0, supported in said frame A. The reelarms d revolve horizontally, or nearly so, and are of a curved form to better catch and draw in the stalks against the cutters.

Upon or in blocks, 0, hinged to the frame A, are arranged sickle-shaped cutters, f, the shanks of which cutters enter said blocks, and may be held there by means of set-screws and at such adjusted angle as may be required. or crank-arms, g, to which, respectively, are secured the end of a bent rod, h, which extends around to the front of the frame and terminates in foot-levers h h,

which the driver in his seat 0 may reach, and by them raise up one or both of the cutters to pass any obstruction coming in their plane of action.-

To the blocks 0 are attached links The stalks caught and brought in by the reel-arms ,(1 against the cutters f are ,cut oil and fall, or, are

thrown upon the platform or body D, which is supported on and carried by an aide, i, and truck-wheels E. This body and truck are pivoted to the frame A at the point in, so that the front and rear portions of the machine may have lateral play independent of each other, and the body D is hinged to the axle t, as at n, and is overpoised or over-balanced at its front by a weight, F, suspended to a cord, 0, said cord running against a friction-pulley, 1*, in, the coupling-arm G.

When the load in or on the body D,behi'nd the axle, which is its center of dumping motion, is in excess of the weight of the overpoise F, the body will dump and drop its load upon the ground, and the weight will return it to its receiving position again.

The weight]? may be increased or diminished so as to regulate the-size of the loads to be discharged. The machine may be drawn by a single horse in the shafts H, or by two or more, and with a tongue instead of shafts, if preferred; That I term the roller B may begeared wheels, and carry the front of the machine in the same way, and drive the reels in the same general way. The roller, however, guides as well as carries the front of the machine and its operative parts.

Having thus described my invention,

That I claim is- -1. The combination of the conical roller or conical wheels for guiding the machine between the rows of stalks, the reels driven directly therefrom, and the.

cutters when arranged and operating as and for the purpose described and represented.

2'. In combination with the cutters made adjustable as described and represented.

RICHARD L. NELSON.

W'itnesses:

A. B. Sronenron, EDMUND MASSON. 

